Volunteer Opportunities

Are you interested in giving back? Or learning more about the issues, challenges and opportunities in Charleston to help make change? Are you a non-profit organization that needs volunteers for short-term or long-term projects? We can help.

As part of our mission, we help connect students, faculty and staff with volunteer and civic engagement opportunities – on campus, in the community and even virtually.

Join Our Email List

If you're a College of Charleston student, faculty or staff member, please join our email list for regular updates on civic opportunities in Charleston. Riverbank clean-ups, elementary school tutoring, free lectures and social justice on campus and in the community … these are just a few of the many opportunities available in our community. Here’s how to join:

  1. Email listserv@listserv.cofc.edu; leave the subject heading blank
  2. Cut and paste ‘Subscribe VOLUNTEER@listserv.cofc.edu’ and your full name into the body of the email; make sure that the email address in the body of the message is not a hyperlink
  3. You will receive an email from College of Charleston LISTSERV Server with a request to confirm your subscription
  4. A follow-up confirmation email will confirm that you have been added to our email list. That’s it!

Virtual Volunteering

We also offer an array of virtual volunteering opportunities. Here are a few local, national and international organizations that are interested in virtual volunteers.

Education and Children

  • Charleston County School District – Heart Math Tutoring
    Virtual volunteers can support CCSD elementary students with just one hour a week and help the children build foundational math skills - and confidence. Volunteers work with the same student(s) all year, building relationships and strengthening skills. Sign up here or send an inquiry email to ripley@heartmathtutoring.org.
  • Reading Partners- Volunteers provide reading and literacy tutoring support to students in grades K-5 via secure video chat.  After meeting volunteer requirements, you have the option of tutoring in a center on campus or from home.  Sign up here or email volunteersc@readingpartners.org with questions.
  • UPLIFT with the Lonon Foundation- Volunteers use group play to facilitate fun, friendship and emotional growth with children who are impacted by their parent’s or caregiver’s cancer diagnosis.

LGTBQ+

  • The Trevor Project- Volunteers sign on for at least a year to support LGBTQ+ teens and young adults through advocacy efforts or one-on-one chat sessions. Please note that, depending on the volunteer opportunity, volunteers may be required to discuss depression and suicide with LGBTQ+ youth.

Mental Health

  • IMAlive- Volunteers will serve on the live online crisis network, working with individuals who may be struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts. Please note that volunteers are required to discuss depression and suicidal ideation at length during an training period and while serving. It also requires a six-month or year-long commitment and a small fee to cover training costs.

Language Services

  • Translators Without Borders- Individuals who are fluent in more than one language can volunteer to provide translation services to humanitarian organizations around the world.
  • TED Translators- Volunteers who are fluent in more than one language can translate and subtitle TED Talks to make them more accessible.

Accessibility and Equity

  • Be My Eyes– A video-calling app connects volunteers to sight-impaired individuals who may need help with various tasks such as navigating a new space or reading mail. This helps visually-impaired individuals live more independent lives.
  • VocaliD- Volunteers can "donate their voice" to help individuals around the world who are living with speech impairments. 
  • Bookshare- Volunteers help those with reading disabilities increase their access to literacy by scanning their own books into Bookshare's database or editing already uploaded books.

Historical and Scientific Research

Disaster and International Relief

  • MapSwipe- Volunteers assist humanitarian groups by locating potentially vulnerable communities on maps. This helps local first responders and non-profit organizations help people when disasters strike.
  • Amnesty Decoders- Volunteers sift through documents, and photographs and other materials to identify and expose human rights violations. Please note that content may be graphic and disturbing.

Community Partners

Are you a Charleston-area non-profit organization looking for ongoing or semester-long volunteers? Do you have an upcoming event that needs a few extra hands? We can help you get the word out. Just email us at volunteer@cofc.edu. A CCE representative will follow up for additional information or add your information to our weekly newsletter.

 

Visit, call or email us today to learn more about how the CCE helps students do well by doing good.

Center for Civic Engagement
Lightsey Center
160 Calhoun Street, Suite 203
Charleston, SC   29401
volunteer@cofc.edu
843.953.5838

 

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